When think you that the sword goes up again?- Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. Oct. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' sword. Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou could'st not die more honourable. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour, Join'd with a masker and a reveller. Ant. Old Cassius still! Oct. Come, Antony; away.— Defiance, traitors, hurl we' in your teeth: [Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army. Cas. Why now, blow, wind; swell, billow; and swim, bark! The storm is up, and all is on the hazard. This is my birth-day; as this very day Messala, Was Cassius born. Give my thy hand, Messala: Be thou my witness, that, against my will, As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set 7 Defiance, traitors, hurl we-] Hurl is peculiarly expressive. The challenger in judicial combats was said to hurl down his gage, when he threw his glove down as a pledge that he would make good his charge against his adversary. Upon one battle all our liberties. 8 This morning are they fled away, and gone; Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost. Cas. I but believe it partly; For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd Bru. Even so, Lucilius. Now, most noble Brutus, Cas. our former ensign-] Former is foremost. 9 The very last time we shall speak together: What are you then determined to do?] i. e. I am resolved in such a case to kill myself. What are you determined of? of that philosophy,] There is certainly an apparent contradiction between the sentiments which Brutus expresses in this, and in his subsequent speech; but there is no real inconsistency. Brutus had laid down to himself as a principle, to abide every chance and extremity of war; but when Cassius reminds him of the disgrace of being led in triumph through the streets of Rome, By which I did blame Cato for the death For fear of what might fall, so to prevent The time of life:-arming myself with patience," To stay the providence of some high powers, That govern us below. Cas. Then, if we lose this battle, You are contented to be led in triumph Thorough the streets of Rome? Bru. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; The end of this day's business, ere it come! [Exeunt. he acknowledges that to be a trial which he could not endure. Nothing is more natural than this. We lay down a system of conduct for ourselves, but occurrences may happen that will force us to depart from it. 2 arming myself with patience, &c.] Dr. Warburton thinks, that in this speech something is lost; but there needed only a parenthesis to clear it. The construction is this: I am determined to act according to that philosophy which directed me to blame the suicide of Cato; arming myself with patience, &c. JOHNSON, The same. Alarum. SCENE II. The Field of Battle. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA. Bru. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills Unto the legions on the other side: [Loud Alarum. Let them set on at once; for I perceive But cold demeanour in Octavius' wing, And sudden push gives them the overthrow. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Alarum. Another Part of the Field. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS. Cas. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly! Tit. O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early: Enter PINDARUS. Pin. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off; Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord! Fly therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off. Cas. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius; Are those my tents, where I perceive the fire? Cas. Cas. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill; Exit. [Exit PINDARUs. This day I breathed first: time is come round, And where I did begin, there I shall end; My life is run his compass.-Sirrah, what news? Pin. [Above.] O my lord! Cas. What news? Pin. Titinius is Enclosed round about with horsemen, that They shout for joy. Cas. [Shout. Come down, behold no more.O, coward that I am, to live so long, To see my best friend ta'en before my face! Enter PINDARUS. Come hither, sirrah: In Parthia did I take thee prisoner; And then I swore thee, saving of thy life, That whatsoever I did bid thee do, Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath! |